Top PLO negotiator: Netanyahu wants to dictate his own solution

Date: 15 / 06 / 2009
Bethlehem - Ma'an

(Now Dr. Erakat has learned that one can not always rely on what Caspit, Barnea, and Eldar write in their respective columns.)

Chief Palestinian Negotiator Dr Saeb Erakat on Sunday said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at Bar-IIan University set further preconditions for negotiations and, in effect, announced Israel’s intention to unilaterally dictate a solution, rather than negotiate a peace.

“Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about negotiations, but left us with nothing to negotiate as he systematically took nearly every permanent status issue off the table. Nor did he accept a Palestinian state; instead, he announced a series of conditions and qualifications that render a viable, independent and sovereign Palestinian state impossible,” Dr Erakat said.

“He blamed Palestinians for their own occupation, and then imposed a set of preconditions for negotiations that demand Palestinians give up their inalienable rights and surrender their national aspirations for a sovereign and independent Palestinian state,” Erekat added.

“He failed to engage with the Arab Peace Initiative and its promise of regional peace. In this sense, his call to meet with Arab leaders was vacuous,” he said.

“And he failed to set the stage for negotiations: there was no acceptance of the two-state solution, no announcement of a comprehensive settlement freeze including all natural growth, and no intention to lift all restrictions on Palestinian movement, including an end to Israel’s siege on Gaza,” Erekat said.

“This speech fell far short of every single one of the benchmarks required of Israel in line with international law and existing agreements, including the Road Map. Palestinians will not be alone in their disappointment over Benjamin Netanyahu’s failure to show himself to be a genuine partner for peace,” Erekat added.

“Netanyahu demonstrated that he lacks even the most basic understanding of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The Palestinian struggle for statehood is based on the denial of our fundamental rights and freedoms under occupation, and the outstanding historical grievances of 1948,” Dr Erakat concluded.